The school proposes a swimming pool, dubbed the Natatorium, that would be "buried" in the ground. On top of the facility there would be a new athletic field with synthetic turf.

"The winter is especially challenging for us due to the nature of winter sports," said Headmaster Thomas W. Philip, adding that many sports like hockey are limited to the amount who can play on the team.

"We have been searching long and hard for a viable athletic option," he told the commissioners. "The thinking is to create a pool that will appeal across the spectrum."

The school believes a pool will offer additional recreational opportunities for its students. Philip said the school and school parents, who are increasingly concerned about concussions, wanted additional offerings in sports, like swimming, that do not involve physical contact.

Commissioners granted preliminary approval to the application.

In other business:

• The commission wanted more information on the request by Dieter E. Hauser and Rosemarie Hauser to change the basement at Valbella Restaurant at 1309 E. Putnam Ave. from storage use to restaurant use. The commission wants to know what the seating numbers would be in the restaurant and how seating would be handled in the various rooms.

• The commission approved a request by Peter M. and Patrick P. Buccieri for a time extension for a plan approved in June 2010 that would see two new buildings totallng five dwelling units built at 24 Harold St.

• The application by 291 Stanwich LLC for a subdivision of a 4.36-acre lot at 291 Stanwich Road was postponed.

• The commission approved the request by Thomas Anderson at 340 Shore Road to remove a shed and a portion of the driveway and construct a roof over an existing concrete patio/raised deck, and construction of a garage and boat house.

• No decision was made on an application by Country Realty Co. to expand an existing canopy on the west side of the Porsche Car dealership at 241 W. Putnam Ave. It will be discussed at a future meeting.

• The commission approved the application by R.F.K. Greenwich Enterprises Inc. for a change of use at 35 River Road from medical office to a mix of medical office and general office.

• The commission approved the plan to build a new two-family home on a 6,590-square-foot property at 144 N. Water St.

• An application by Stanislawa Sroka to build an addition at 116 Halstead Ave. was postponed.